Madison churches planning Serving the City as One community service day

By Katie Skelley

Madison churches are joining together to provide a day of service and fellowship to the Madison community. On April 21, area churches will be coordinating to sponsor Madison’s annual Serving the City as One, and will be participating in repair, service, and beautification projects across the city.

Serving the City is an annual event to bring the churches of Greater Huntsville and the surrounding communities together to visibly demonstrate the love of Christ through united prayer, a day of serving in the community, and sharing and celebrating together God’s goodness.” said event co-leader, Larry Ward.

There was a kick-off meeting on Monday, January 30 at CrossPointe Church in Madison.

Serving the City as One originated in 2006 at First Baptist Church of Huntsville. The program was modeled after Operation Inasmuch, which was created 17 years ago in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is still operating today. Since 1995, Operation Inasmuch has expanded nationwide, and more than 1500 churches in 21 states have conducted a one-day service event.

“In 2010, my wife Deborah and I became co-leaders in Madison with Lenny and Sandy Neiman. Also, to provide a larger facility for the breakfast and in-house projects, CrossPointe Church became the Madison Hub (host church). Serving the City happens at the same time in Huntsville and Madison and now there are four Hubs: First Baptist for Huntsville, CrossPointe Church for Madison, Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church for North Huntsville, and Willow Brook Baptist for South Huntsville.” said Ward.

CrossPointe Church and Madison First Church of the Nazarene are the sponsoring churches for Madison.

The following Madison churches will be participating in Serving the City as One 2012:

Asbury UMC

Capshaw Baptist Church

Cornerstone Word of Life

First Baptist Madison

First Missionary Baptist

Good Shepherd UMC

Grace UMC. Gurley C. P.

Locust Grove Baptist Church

Messiah Lutheran

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Restoration Church

Summit Crossing Community Church

The Brook Church

Willowbrook Madison

Bob Jones High School FCA

CrossPointe Church

Madison First Church of the Nazarene

In 2011, 572 volunteers participated in Serving the City. Event organizers are hoping for an even larger turnout on April 21.

Event leaders recently met with Madison Mayor Paul Finley and city officials to determine what projects are most needed in the city in 2012.

Projects in the past include: roadside cleanup, yard work for senior citizens, water giveaway, free car wash, construction of a new ramp at the Madison Senior Citizens Center, mulching at city schools, weather radio giveaway, sewing projects for area nursing homes, repairs and cleaning at the Madison Head Start School, and the construction of over 500 Easter crosses for local churches. Similar projects will be sponsored for the 2012 event.

Serving the City as One is funded by the participating churches, but will accept donations from the community. Donations can be made to Huntsville Area Coordinator Mike Pearce at First Baptist Huntsville.

Event organizers will be holding bi-weekly organization meetings leading up to the service day on April 21. For more information on how to become involved with the Serving the City as One ministry, contact Larry Ward or Lenny Neiman.